Project Cumulus
Encyclopedia
Operation Cumulus was a project of the UK government in the 1950s
which was investigating weather manipulation
, in particular through cloud seeding
experiments. Known jokingly within the project as Operation Witch Doctor, the project was operational between 1949 and 1952.
of an Air Ministry
meeting held on 3rd November 1953. They included:
in north Devon
. 9 inches (229 millimetres) of rain fell within twenty-four hours and the East Lyn River
rose rapidly and burst its banks. Thirty-four people died and many buildings and bridges were seriously damaged.
Although there is no direct evidence, there has been speculation that Project Cumulus contributed to the conditions that caused this flood. A few days before the disaster a seeding experiment was carried out over southern England. Alan Yates, an aeronautical engineer and glider pilot who was working with the operation, sprayed salt in the air and was "elated" to learn of a heavy rainfall in Staines
shortly after.
Other writers deny that the experiments could have caused the accident. Meteorologist Philip Eden claims that "it is preposterous to blame the Lynmouth flood on such experiments".
1950s
The 1950s or The Fifties was the decade that began on January 1, 1950 and ended on December 31, 1959. The decade was the sixth decade of the 20th century...
which was investigating weather manipulation
Weather control
Weather control is the act of manipulating or altering certain aspects of the environment to produce desirable changes in weather. Weather control can have the goal of preventing damaging weather, such as hurricanes or tornadoes, from occurring; of causing beneficial weather, such as rainfall in...
, in particular through cloud seeding
Cloud seeding
Cloud seeding, a form of intentional weather modification, is the attempt to change the amount or type of precipitation that falls from clouds, by dispersing substances into the air that serve as cloud condensation or ice nuclei, which alter the microphysical processes within the cloud...
experiments. Known jokingly within the project as Operation Witch Doctor, the project was operational between 1949 and 1952.
Motivation
The military were controlling the weather for several reasons, as detailed in minutesMinutes
Minutes, also known as protocols, are the instant written record of a meeting or hearing. They typically describe the events of the meeting, starting with a list of attendees, a statement of the issues considered by the participants, and related responses or decisions for the issues.Minutes may be...
of an Air Ministry
Air Ministry
The Air Ministry was a department of the British Government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964...
meeting held on 3rd November 1953. They included:
- "bogging down enemy movement";
- "incrementing the water flow in rivers and streams to hinder or stop enemy crossings";
- clearing fog from airfields.
The Lynmouth disaster
On 16 August 1952 a severe flood occurred in the town of LynmouthLynmouth
Lynmouth is a village in Devon, England, on the north edge of Exmoor.The village straddles the confluence of the West Lyn and East Lyn rivers, in a gorge below Lynton, to which it is connected by the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway....
in north Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
. 9 inches (229 millimetres) of rain fell within twenty-four hours and the East Lyn River
East Lyn River
The East Lyn is a river which rises high in Exmoor, Somerset. It flows through the East Lyn Valley.-Watercourse:The river starts as the Upper East Lyn at Malmsmead it then flows for several miles, past Brendon and makes confluence with Hoar Oak Water at Watersmeet, where Watersmeet House is...
rose rapidly and burst its banks. Thirty-four people died and many buildings and bridges were seriously damaged.
Although there is no direct evidence, there has been speculation that Project Cumulus contributed to the conditions that caused this flood. A few days before the disaster a seeding experiment was carried out over southern England. Alan Yates, an aeronautical engineer and glider pilot who was working with the operation, sprayed salt in the air and was "elated" to learn of a heavy rainfall in Staines
Staines
Staines is a Thames-side town in the Spelthorne borough of Surrey and Greater London Urban Area, as well as the London Commuter Belt of South East England. It is a suburban development within the western bounds of the M25 motorway and located 17 miles west south-west of Charing Cross in...
shortly after.
Other writers deny that the experiments could have caused the accident. Meteorologist Philip Eden claims that "it is preposterous to blame the Lynmouth flood on such experiments".